Shelter at Samos
EuroRelief operates refugee camps on the Greek islands, Samos and Lesvos, although they are quite near the coast of Turkey. Samos is near Ephesus, and also near the isle of Patmos, if you catch my drift.
Several years ago, our daughter worked as a volunteer on Lesvos. Now she is doing a stint on Samos. Here’s a pic she sent of the library there, where she’s been reading to the kids:
. . . looks like the librarians there could use a little help. We’re glad our daughter is there to read to the kids.
She reports that the camp on Samos was built a few years by the Greek government. That new camp replaces an older one that had proven too small to accommodate such a steadily expansive flow of people. The refugees who are fortunate enough to get to the island are striving to find a place to stay for a while, or to settle into.
This situation is, of course, no small problem. Facilities at the camp are sufficient for temporary support. But of course, this work tending a constant stream of refugees requires a constant stream of financial support, as well as a steady stream of volunteers. Our daughter reports:
“A bunch of government agencies and NGOs got together and designed what they thought might be the idealized way to manage the crisis and provide humane housing while also just…keeping things organized and …contained. If the budgets had continued and the programs had not simply faded away, this would indeed be an idealized way to handle thousands of refugees.”
But alas, budgets, like you and I, do not last forever. People there who are able to get to the next level of forward progress typically find a way to get to Athens. . . or somewhere. So then what? The Greeks cannot employ them all. Do they find a way to wander beyond borders. . . to other Euro countries? or even beyond? If you can think of a way to help, perhaps you will . . .
This report reminds me of some words from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25: “I was stranger and you took me in . . . hungry you fed me.”
Say what, Jesus?. . . You heard me; read the Book … sermon on the mount. It’s not rocket science. Oh, and while I’m thinking about it. . . Blessed are the peacemakers.
So nowadays we have these international relief agencies working mightily to assuage the world’s refugee problems, and we have governments and other agencies struggling to find a buck or two to lend their support.
We have another daughter who works with Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief agency:
All that to say, there’s a lot going on in the world. We all need to do our part to lend a hand, or a buck or two, or whatever is necessary to keep people sheltered, clothed and fed and thereby. . . to keep our peace from falling apart, if such a thing is possible.
